https://arab.news/jmpu3
- Asjad Iqbal and Awais Munir have won all their matches during the tournament played in Mongolia
- Snooker has gained substantial popularity in Pakistan, becoming one of its most followed cue sports
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan cueists Asjad Iqbal and Awais Munir have qualified for the Mongolia Snooker World Cup 2024 quarterfinals scheduled to be played today, Wednesday, at Ulaanbaatar where they go up against China and Iran, state-run media reported.
The Mongolia Snooker World Cup 2024 is taking place from Sep 15-22. The tournament is part of the International Billiards and Snooker Federation’s schedule which has been held annually in Mongolia’s capital since 2019.
“In the quarterfinals to be played on Wednesday, Asjad will face Gao Yang (China) while Awais will be up against Ali Gharahgozlou (Iran),” the Associated Press of Pakistan reported on Tuesday.
According to local media reports, the Pakistani snooker players did not face any defeat in their matches and qualified for the Round of 16.
On Sep 15, Munir beat Iran’s Siyavosh Mozayani 3-1 with frame scores of 9-63, 78-34, 59-50, and 73-13 while Iqbal defeated Qatar’s Ali Alobaidi 3-1 with frame scores of 59-36, 26-63, 58-19, and 70-58.
Snooker has gained substantial popularity in Pakistan over the years, becoming one of the country’s most followed cue sports. Its rise can be attributed to the availability of snooker clubs across the countries, offering affordable access to the game. Pakistani players have also achieved significant success in international snooker, further boosting its appeal.
The breakthrough moment for snooker in Pakistan came in 1994 when Mohammad Yousuf won the IBSF World Snooker Championship, putting the country on the global snooker map. His success inspired many young players to take up the sport.